2 '2 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



convert many places there gradually into summer pastures. It 

 is early flowering, and likes the presence of lime in the 

 soil. 



Alstonia constricta, F. v. Mueller. 



Warmer parts of East Australia, particularly in the dry inland 

 districts. The bark of this small tree is aromatic bitter, and 

 regarded as valuable in ague, also as a general tonic. It is 

 allied to the Dita bark of India and North-Eastern Australia 

 from Alstonia scholaris, R. Brown, and produces a peculiar 

 alkaloid, alstonin (Baron von Mueller and L. Hummel). See 

 Wittstein's Organic Constituents of Plants (edit. Muell. 1878, 

 p. 330). 



Alstrcemeria pallida, Graham. 



Chili. Palatable starch can be obtained from the root of this 

 plant, which, for its loveliness alone, deserves a place in any 

 garden. The tubers of others of the numerous Alstrcemerias 

 can doubtless be utilised in a similar technic manner. 



Althaea officinalis, Linne. 



The Real Marsh-Mallow. Europe, North Africa, North and 

 Middle Asia. A tall perennial herb, with handsome flowers. 

 The mucilaginous root and also the foliage are used for medi- 

 cinal purposes. The plant succeeds best on damp, somewhat 

 saline soil. 



Amarantus Blitum, Linne. 



South Europe, North Africa, South-West Asia. This annual 

 herb is a favourite plant among allied ones for spinage ; but 

 not only species of this genus, but also many other Amaran- 

 tacese serve as culinary herbs. The dried plant contains 10 to 

 12 per cent, nitrate of potash. It arrives at maturity in two to 

 three months, producing on good soil about 4 tons per acre, equal 

 to about 400 Ibs. saltpetre. A. cruentus L., A. hypochondri- 

 acus L., and A. caudatus L., are cultivated in Ceylon. A. fru- 

 mentaceus, Hamilt., is closely allied to the first one mentioned, 

 and attains 6 feet on slopes of mountains, when cultivated in 

 South India for food-grain. The leaves serve as a vegetable. 



Amarantus paniculatus, Linne. 



In tropical countries of Asia and also America. An annual 

 herb, yielding half a pound of floury nutritious seeds on a 

 square yard of ground in three months, according to Roxburgh, 

 Extensively cultivated in India. 



